. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. Phtto by H. G. F. Sfurrill, E,,/.] \_Eailbii DARK GREEN SNAKE -V natii'c of ltal\ and other countries bordering the mediterranean. Accredited ivith a particularly fierce ditpctition CHAPTER V SNAKES THE characteristic contour of a snake's body is too familiar to need elaborate description ; its leading features are, in fact, so nearl)' approximated by certain of the legless lizards, previously described, that the distinctions between the two can with difficult}' be defined. Many of the
. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. Phtto by H. G. F. Sfurrill, E,,/.] \_Eailbii DARK GREEN SNAKE -V natii'c of ltal\ and other countries bordering the mediterranean. Accredited ivith a particularly fierce ditpctition CHAPTER V SNAKES THE characteristic contour of a snake's body is too familiar to need elaborate description ; its leading features are, in fact, so nearl)' approximated by certain of the legless lizards, previously described, that the distinctions between the two can with difficult}' be defined. Many of the snake-like lizards, including the Common Blind-worm, are altogether devoid of external limbs. In some snakes, on the other hand, and notably the large terrestrial Pythons, a spur-like development on each side of the base of the tail represents rudimentar)^ hind legs. The Snakes agree essentially with the Lizards in the character of their scaly covering, the scales, however, being larger on their under-surface and specially adapted, as in the legless lizards, for creeping locomotion. The essential distinctions between the two groups have to be sought in the structure of the head. The most notable of these, as it obtains in the Snakes, is the very loose manner in which all the bones connected with the jaws are held together, thus providing for the greatest possible distension in the act of their su-allowing their prey whole, as is the custom of all ordinary snakes. To achieve this end, the two hah'es of the lower jaw are not united together at their extremity or chin, as in lizards, but are merely connected with one another b\' an elastic ligament. In most snakes the bones of the upper jaw and palate are also attached to one another in a similar way. The eyes of a snake dift'er in a very marked manner from those of ordinary lizards. No snake possesses movable eyelids. The eye, in compensation, is protected b\' a transparent horny disk, continuous with the general epidermis, and
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecad, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectzoology
